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According to a release from 12th Judicial Circuit District Attorney James Tarbox, he has selected Coffee County and Pike County Sheriff’s Offices to receive new technology equipment to help strengthen the commitment for Alabama to become compliant with the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

According to the release, registered sex offenders in the state continues to rise and that increase, in addition of the potential for recidivism, poses a significant risk to the safety of Alabama’s residents, especially children.

The Pike and Coffee County Sheriff’s offices will receive a computer with a large screen monitor, iPad and desktop computer scanner, which are designed to help both of those agencies in streamlining their registration, notification and compliance checks for sex offenders in Coffee and Pike Counties.

This initiative is made possible through a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) grant that was awarded to the Alabama Office of Prosecution Services by the Office of Justice Programs, Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART Office).

“This grant provides updated technology to local law enforcement, enabling them to better monitor sex offenders and protect the citizens of Alabama,” Sex Offender Resource Prosecutor and Deputy Director of the Office of Prosecution Services Jon Moody said.

The technology will also help strengthen the infrastructure of local law enforcement and enable more information-sharing capabilities across law enforcement agencies.

“I am grateful to the Association and Office of Prosecution Services for helping to provide these resources to local law enforcement,” Tarbox said. “As the father of a young daughter, ensuring that our community’s children are protected from sexual offenders and predators is one of my top priorities. This technology will help our local agencies continue their mission of protecting the residents of Coffee and Pike Counties.”